Deliverables

WP4

WP1

- D1.1:Project Shared Workspace Implemented and Operational (confidential) To fulfil two fundamental internal project communication requirements: i) efficient exchange between partners of information about INSPIRE project; ii) decentralised and secured archiving of the documents generated, one independent and secured web-based communication tool: Project Shared Workplace – PSW has been implemented with a restricted access for project partners only.Among all the functionalities installed on this PSW, for now partners have a total access to the following tools:· Document sharing and archiving· Meeting organization· General project communication· Online working document· Individual project management The PSW maintenance is therefore an ongoing activity that will continue for the project lifetime.

WP2

- D2.1:Stack requirements for GEN 1.0/1.5 with test plan and protocols (confidential) To enable the stack performance in the fuel cell system to be integrated in a vehicle, the requirements of the stack and its components are defined. The stack requirements are adapted to achieve the performance requirements for beginning of life and after the required operating time. The test plan and protocols provide a mechanism to evaluate if the above requirements can be achieved within the operating strategies of a vehicle.

WP3

- D3.1:Report on activity and stability of reference catalyst (public)Both a state-of-the-art Pt/C benchmark catalyst and a de-alloyed PtNi/C catalyst were studied for the oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode of the fuel cell, with the rotating disc electrode (RDE) technique, the floating electrode (FE) technique and as complete membrane electrode assembly (MEA) measurements in single cells, in order to define a baseline for catalyst characterisation within the project. For RDE measurements, a detailed testing protocol was developed to enhance the accuracy and comparability of the method, and was validated by experimental investigations. Comparable results for the activities of the Pt/C catalysts between the different laboratories were achieved in the RDE measurements. The kinetic activity of PtNi/C catalyst outperformed the Pt/C catalyst, but the scatter of the data was larger in RDE measurements. Based on the results of MEA degradation studies, a modified procedure for accelerated aging in RDE measurements was developed, that was able to induce activity losses in the supported Pt catalyst without being too harsh for the Pt alloy catalysts. The floating electrode technique delivered similar kinetic current densities at 0.9 V as measured in the RDE, but did not require a mass transport correction, as the limiting currents were several orders of magnitude larger. In this case also mass activities at much lower potentials more representative of actual fuel cell applications were determined, namely at 0.65 V vs. RHE. Measurements of the same benchmark catalysts in small and large size MEAs provided solid data to compare the RDE results to. Good agreement, especially for the Pt/C catalyst was found. Several degradation protocols were tested with small- area MEAs, and the best protocol then validated in large-area MEAs. The PtNi catalyst showed the higher mass activity both at beginning and at end of life. Design criteria that permit down-selecting new catalysts on the basis of their kinetic activity improvements in the RDE and later in MEA measurements were determined.-> Access to the PDF file

- D3.2:Catalyst activity and stability studies (public)Pt, Pt alloy and ultra-low Pt materials have all been further advanced in the first 15 months. PtNi formulations as thin films (Task 3.3, CNRS), shaped particles (Task 3.4, TUB) and dealloyed catalysts (Task 3.4, JM) reach project mass activity and stability targets. The last of these was sufficientlyprospective that the investigation of the feasibility of catalyst layers in fuel cell MEAs, to give high power density at high current density, was initiated earlier than planned, and validated at JM. Catalysts developed at TUB demonstrate extremely high initial mass activity of up to 3.4 A/mg Pt in RDEtesting. For the longer term, high mass activity and high stability are expected from the complementary routes to Pt thin film deposition being developed on carbon fibre-carbon nanotube electrodes (Task 3.3, CNRS),transition metal doped carbons (Task 3.2, JM) and NbTiOx-tie layer protected carbon fibres and particles (Task 3.2 VTT and JM). Deposition of rare-earth metal-Pt alloys from ionic liquids is under development at TUM.In addition, the further optimisation of the composition and processing of ultra-low Pt Fe-NC hybrids (CNRS) will continue to extend the frontiers in the activity and stability of this class of catalysts.-> Access to the PDF file

WP4

- D4.1:Supply Sealed CCMS For GEN 1.5 Stack (confidential)The aim of this work was to develop, fabricate and supply a higher performing MEA for incorporation into BMW’s Gen 1.5 stack platform, compared to the state-of-the-art benchmark MEA available at the project start. Several components of the MEA were evaluated at JMFC in small area screener single cells for performance and stability, and were optimised for the INSPIRE stack conditions, as specified in WP2.1. Improvements in the GDL, membrane, anode and cathode layer formulations and reduced cathode Pt loadings were successfully demonstrated and these components were then integrated into the new advanced MEA design.In the screener cell testing at JMFC, the new Gen 1.5 MEA at a total cell Pt loading of 0.35 mgcm-2 was able to achieve close to the interim performance target for the full-size Gen 1.5 stack of 1.2Wcm-2 under the INSPIRE stack conditions. A cost analysis revealed a 29% cost reduction for the new MEA, in terms of €/kW.The first samples of the down selected new Gen 1.5 MEAs have been fabricated and delivered to BMW, initially for screener cell testing Full size Gen 1.5 stack MEAs will be manufactured and delivered over the coming 3 months. Deliverable 4.1 has thus been successfully completed.

WP5

- D5.1:Release of specifications for BPPs and MEAs (confidential)In this report the component requirements are specified to achieve the stack performance at the given system operating conditions. This includes the cell pitch for the cell assembly as well as part geometries and performance targets for GDL, MEA and bipolar plate being defined. For durability reasons, the lifetime expectations and the temperature limits are also defined and the therefore the required component properties are derived. Furthermore, descriptions of the main manufacturing steps, the product functionality and the expectations for the final product and the project targets are defined.

- D7.2: Dissemination & Knowledge Management Protocol (confidential) This report presents the dissemination protocol for the INSPIRE project, the procedure for “Open Access” to peer reviewed research articles, internal rules, information on support from the EU and FCH-JU members and the strategy for Knowledge Management within the project.

As part of the communication activities in the INSPIRE project, a team from Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells took part in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) week in the UK (Sonning Common Primary School). This provided an opportunity for over 400 children from primary and secondary schools ...